2019 -- S 0867 SUBSTITUTE A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

     

     Introduced By: Senators Paolino, Quezada, Pearson, DiPalma, and Gallo

     Date Introduced: May 08, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-11 of the General Laws entitled "Certification of Teachers [See

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Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby amended by adding

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thereto the following section:

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     16-11-9. Teacher certification for specialty skills.

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     (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following

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meanings:

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     (1) “Local education agency” (LEA) includes all of the following within the state:

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     (i) Public school districts;

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     (ii) Regional school districts;

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     (iii) State-operated schools;

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     (iv) Regional collaborative schools; and

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     (v) Charter schools and mayoral academies.

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     (2) “Specialty skills” means proficiency or expertise in in-demand subject matters

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including, but not limited to, traditional academic, career and technical, or other college or career

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pathway program areas, knowledge about which is obtained by an individual through education

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or experience, and for which Rhode Island elementary and secondary schools face difficulty

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finding qualified educators with the appropriate certification.

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     (b) To be eligible for certification as an educator with specialty skills, the candidate shall:

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     (1) Hold a bachelor's degree or a higher degree from an accredited college or university

 

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with a major course appropriate to the instructional field;

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     (2) Obtain a written request from the LEA that proposes to employ the individual under a

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specialty skills certificate; and

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     (3) Demonstrate the content knowledge necessary to be an effective educator in the

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subject matter area using a collection of indicators that may include, but need not be limited to:

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     (i) Relevant work experience in the subject matter area in an amount to be determined by

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the council; or

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     (ii) A subject matter assessment the council may prescribe; or

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     (iii) A combination of subsections (b)(3)(i) and (b)(3)(ii) of this section.

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     (c) A candidate who completes the requirements in this subsection shall be issued a

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specialty skills certificate.

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     (d) The commissioner of elementary and secondary education (the “commissioner”) shall

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establish standards for the training, support, and supervision of individuals with specialty skills

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certificates.

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      (e) Each LEA seeking to hire an individual with a specialty skills certificate must submit

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a plan to the department of education (the “department”), which details how the LEA will train,

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support, supervise, and evaluate such individuals.

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     (f) The department may issue standard LEA plans, which LEAs may implement in lieu of

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developing original plans. The department shall coordinate the training efforts of LEAs, and shall

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ensure that LEA training programs meet fair, substantive, and comprehensive professional

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development standards.

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     (g) A specialty skills certificate issued pursuant to this section shall be in effect for a

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period of up to three (3) years. During this time, the certificate holder shall successfully complete

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the requirements to receive a full certificate, as defined by the council on elementary and

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secondary education.

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     (h) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of

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this section.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS

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     This act would establish a procedure for the certification of educators with specialty

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skills.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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